Turtle Rush Part 5
Hey everyone. Hope you’re enjoying this fanfic. Be sure to read it in order if you’re a bit lost in the plot.
Stay safe, healthy, and in good spirits!
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[HIDDEN CITY]
“Get your fresh fish here~! Straight from the well’s mouth!”
“Organic leaping fruits! Put a pep in your step! Get them while they’re still springy!”
“Want to impress your lady? Then come down to our ancient jewelry! Where we treat every woman like a queen!”
As the markets of Hidden City bustles with shopkeepers and goods of all kinds, Dahlia trails to the forest. When reaching her destination in the deepest parts, she opens the bag and starts collecting whatever she can get her hands on.
‘These look great. Perfect for this season.’
Zip~
“This should be enough.”
Mayhem sits on her shoulders as they walk further down.
*Squeaking*
“I know you can teleport us there, but it’s been a while since my last visit. Let’s enjoy the view as we go. I’ll even let you snack on a few of these.”
Dahlia rubs his cheek as he meows with glee.
“You’ll like it there, Mayhem. It’s peaceful, quiet, and has the best—"
Rustle-Rustle~
“!?”
Mayhem snarls as Dahlia scans her surroundings.
RUSTLE~
The sounds become louder as she takes a fighting stance.
SHOOM!
“AAHHH!”
THUMP!
In a flash, someone flies into her, knowing each other down.
“Ugh~....”
“Augh, what in the—”
“Dahlia?”
Her head shoots up to see the younger terrapin.
“Michael?”
They stumble back on their feet.
“Where did...how did you...and why is there a rope tied to your waist?!”
Rustle—Rustle!
Just then, they see Leo2k3.
“Mikey, there you are. I was...Dahlia?”
Seeing the shock on her face, his eyes shift to the weapon in his hand then back at her.
“I-I...let me explain—”
“Are you insane?”
Frustration takes over as she comes closer.
“I said I would handle this, and yet you go behind my back?!”
“Um, guys, this really isn’t the time to—”
“I know and I’m sorry, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing! I want to help as much as you do!”
“That’s our mission too,” Mikey2k12 argues, “but I ain’t acting loco like you, homie! Let’s go back already and talk about this where it’s safe, please?”
“He’s right. You’re on the outskirts of the Hidden City. The wild here is just as dangerous and unpredictable as that sword you’re holding, you thief.”
“Oh, so I’m the bad guy here?”
“No duh, Mr. I-Know-Everything’.”
“Aren’t you just as upset as I am, Michael?! We’re stranded in another dimension and our only chance of getting back could be this! I had to try!”
“And you could’ve wound up in some whacko world with no oxygen, or in space, or...or...you get the idea!”
Unbeknownst to them, something lurks in the woods, circling the trio.
“You didn’t have to follow me!”
“But I did anyway! I throw myself into a portal to drag your sorry shell back to get you out of trouble! And that’s rich from someone who’s a screwup!”
“Enough! Both of you!”
The turtles turn away from each other.
“Nardo, I....I am disappointed that you...hah...but I’m not...I don’t hate you for this.”
She doesn’t see the confliction in his face.
“But you have to understand. This place and the one above...both are my home. I know them better than anyone. What you did was just dumb luck. If you hadn’t shown up here, you could’ve been in a worse situation where I or April, or—or your brothers wouldn’t be able to find you.”
Both turtles look to her as Mayhem hugs her neck in comfort.
“Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing or how I’m gonna do it...but I’m not giving up. Right now, all I want is for you to give me a chance...and so far...you haven’t.”
“......”
SHAAA~
“...Um, guys...”
GRRR!
They gasp as a ten-foot lion appears. Two tails, crystal-pattern on its body and a glowing, red gemstone embedded in its chest.
“It’s that freaky creature again!”
“An Inferleon...here?”
FWIP!
“Look out!”
BAM!
“Ahh!”
Using her foot, she uses her powers to push the boys away.
CLANG!
“Ngh!”
She forms two spears to hold the beast’s paw in place.
“Dahlia, above you!”
FWOOM!
WHAM!
She backflips away in time before its tails take a whack at her.
“Is the portal you came from still open?!”
“It’s due east over there!”
ROOOOAAAR!!
“Well, what’re you waiting for!”
They make a run for it while dodging the yokai’s tails with each strike.
“What is that thing?!”
“An Inferleon! But they’re usually docile! Which one of you ticked it off!?”
“We didn’t! It just charged right at us!”
“I don’t wanna be cat food~!”
“There it is!”
Only twenty-feet away from the blue light as they run faster.
FWIP/AHH!
“Mikey!”
SNATCH/WOAH!
“Leo!”
Dahlia slides back when the beast coils its tails on each of them.
At the exact moment, the four turtles return to the lair to see their brothers holding onto ropes while a portal is open.
“What the shell?!”
“U-Uh, hey guys.”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Woah!”
Raph2k12 feels a tug on his end of the rope and tries to pull back. Raph2k3 and Donnie2k12 help him while Leo2k12 and Mikey2k3 do the same for Donnie2k3.
“How long have they been gone?”
“Three minutes.”
“Then what’s keepin’ them from—ahh!”
WHIP/BAM!
All of a sudden, they get lifted up and hit the floor.
“Woah/Augh~!”
WHIP/WHAM!
“What—OW—is—OUCH—happening?!”
“How should—OW—I know—OOF!”
BAM!
“Augh, my shell!”
WHIP/SLAM!
Like themselves, Leo and Mikey are getting flipped back and forth by the beast.
Ringtone!
Just then, Dahlia gets a facetime from April.
Beep!
“Hey, April, can this wait for a moment?”
“Just checking on how y—WHAT THE WHAT IS THAT!?”
“AAHHH!”
SLAM!
“Long story! Gotta go!”
[Wait, what are—]
Bleep!
Dahlia quickly dials a number.
[Hello?]
“Raging Red, it’s me!”
[Dahlia?! Where—]
“When I say ‘now’ you pull on the ropes as hard as you can! Get Franken-Foot to help!”
[What are you gonna do?]
“Something stupid.”
Staying on call, Dahlia charges in.
SNARL!
BAM!
She leaps sideways and snags a fragment of the Inferleon’s crystals.
CLANKING!
FWIP/SLAM!
She forms chains strong enough to restrain the mystic lion down on its back. Landing on its chest, Dahlia heads for the firestone.
SHAA!
Dahlia creates a protective layer over her hands with larger ones.
FWOOM!
CRACKLE!
But when reaching out, a forcefield pushes her back.
“Dang it, should’ve known it repels magic,” she curses.
“Ugh~ I’m gonna be sick—ouch—woah!”
Biting her lip, Dahlia had only one thing to do.
“Sorry about this, big guy.”
Inhaling sharply, she plunges her bare hands onto the gem.
FSSSHHH!
“AAHHH~!”
“Dahlia/Dahlia, no!”
The agonizing pain is too much to bear, but her persistence grows as she uses all her strength.
CLANG!
ROOOAAAARRR!
The beast cries as the gem pulls out from its body and loses its tail grip on the turtles.
“Now, Raph!”
“PULL~!”
YANK!
The turtles, Franken-Foot, and Shelldon tug on the ropes as the brothers get pulled in.
FWOOM!
“(Both)DAHLIA!”
SWHING!
THUMP!
Leo2k3 and Mikey2k12 are now back in the lair as the portal disappears.
“Little bro!”
Raph2k12 collides into his youngest brother and helps him up.
“You alright, buddy?”
“Ugh...I won’t be riding rollercoasters for a while.”
“What happened? And where’s Dahlia?”
“Oh no! Dudes, she’s in trouble—we gotta go save her!”
Raph2k12 tries calling her, but only hears static.
“Aw, sewer apples, the line’s dead!”
“......Huff...”
A drop of sweat drips down Dahlia’s cheek. Her eyes glued to the Inferleon, its face only a foot away from hers as she is cornered into a wall. The beast breathes slowly as its fangs let out a menacing growl. Mayhem tries to shield Dahlia, but she holds him in place, not breaking eye-contact. She can sense it. His pain much stronger than her tarnished palms burnt by the stone she forcibly removed. It only makes her chest burn with anxiety, sadness, and remorse. Dahlia ducks her head, curling up with Mayhem in her lap. She prepares for the worst, and she knew she deserves it.
SLUMP~
But after a long, unbearable silence, Dahlia is stunned as the Inferleon lies on its belly in front of her. Relaxing herself, Dahlia leans forward as Mayhem jumps beside the lion. His behavior confused Dahlia. It’s as if it can read her thoughts and emotions. Slowly, she reaches out, watching his movements before he licks her hand, a low howl coming through his throat.
“...I’m sorry, too. I’m so sorry.”
Dahlia then remembers the gemstone and sees it lying on the side. Even if her palms, still feeling the fiery pain deep in her skin and numb to the touch, she knows what to do to make this right.
REOW~!
“...Mayhem? What’s wrong—”
SHOOM!
“Uh!”
TWIRL—TWIRL!
ROAR!
Out of nowhere, a giant net made of glowing strings ensnares on the Inferleon. Dahlia and Mayhem see a man. Or at least she thinks, till he came closer. Stripe patterns on the visible, glowing red-orange skin, wearing black leather with a pullover face-mask.
“Not bad, little lady. Even the wild beasts respect you.”
He twirls the net-gun and drops it back into its case.
Click
WHIRR~
The stranger uses a high-tech bubble to carry the gem inside as it magnetically pulls to his hand.
“Thanks for doing the job for me.”
The Inferleon snarls at the figure.
“So, you’re the one who forced him out of his cave.”
“Wasn’t that difficult. Oh—(chuckles)sorry, where are my manners.”
The brunette pulls his mask down, revealing his face that appears merman-like as his golden eyes smile.
“I’m Jax. Your friends are already acquainted with us.”
“Figures they’d be a walking magnet for fellow clowns.”
“Aren’t you adorable.”
He tosses the orb a few times while walking sideways.
“Wish we could’ve met earlier. You would’ve made a great apprentice. But for now, I’m in the middle of something, so~...”
C-CLACK
BOOM!
With another gun, he opens a portal.
“Have fun playing catch-up.”
“Think again, fish-lips!”
Skid!
Dahlia gets on her feet and collides into him as they fall into the portal.
SHWING!
TUMBLE!
Next thing they know, they’re rolling into the middle of an abandoned construction site.
KICK!
“Ow! Hey, not cool!”
Dahlia chases after Jax as they jump from one steel column to the next till they stop halfway.
BOOM!
SHWING!
Jax escapes through a portal and reappears on the other side of the building.
FWOOM!
“Ngh!”
WHIRL!
Dahlia spins sideways to dodge the metal hoop and sees Hypno floating in the air.
“Hello again, my dear.”
“And goodbye!”
She runs ahead.
CLANG!
She’s cut off by Ghostbear and Meat-Sweats.
“Peek-a-boo, little mousie.”
“We have a reservation for one, runaway brunch.”
Dahlia raises her hand out, but feels a sharp twinge, forcing her to retract.
“Looks like you’re out of luck, lassie.”
However, Dahlia spots the rope flung over one column and a wheelbarrow of bricks. Her smirk changes quickly to shock and points down.
“Oh-mi-gosh, is that Guy Flambe eating pork risotto with Annihilation?”
“Huh/Que?”
💥👊🏼PUNCH/OOF!
Dahlia runs to the wheelbarrow and ties the rope onto the handle.
“You’re French toast, pest!”
KICK!
“AAHH!”
CRASH!
The impact makes them fall with the wheelbarrow.
WHOOSH!
Dahlia grabs the other end of the rope, despite the pain, pulling her up. She leaps off and keeps climbing to the top.
“Forgot about me?”
SWING/CLANG—CLANG!
She dodges the hoops, then finds herself heading for a ledge.
“Whew—okay, okay, you got this. One...”
CLANG!
“Dah~ three!”
BOING!
She manages to form coils onto her feet to bounce towards the other rooftop.
TUMBLE~!
“OW—OW—OW!”
POOF!
“...Ow.”
She hits a pile of cement sacks and slides down.
SHWING!
Reow!
“Mayhem!”
SWIRL/GRAB!
“Augh!”
Dahlia squirms as Meat-Sweats’ tendrils get ahold of her.
SHLOOP!
“Ngh...gah~!”
The glowing, green, blobs appear as it sucks out her energy.
“Struggling only makes it worse,” Meat-Sweats cackles, “but an ingredient who puts up a fight makes the flavor even more delectable.”
Mayhem lunges towards them.
TWIRL/SNATCH/WHIMPER!
“No!”
A high-tech bolas net traps him onto a pillar.
KA-THUMP!
Coming out of a portal are two more men appearing alien-like the same as Jax.
“Told ya I would knab the sucker, Colton.”
The dirty-blonde mohawk has sharp, pointed teeth that sneer with joy. He tosses the bow, and his redhead friend with goggles catches it with his tail.
“Not bad, Skeet. I give it an 8-point average.”
Once Dahlia no longer had the willpower, Meat-Sweats drops her to the floor.
“What shall we do with her, boss?”
They look to Jax, who sits on an isolated bench.
“Dahlia/Where are you?!”
Jax sees the turtles outside the fence, his eyes glow eerie with intrigue. He gets up and walks forward.
WHOOSH~
A gust of wind blows his hood off, revealing dreadlocks that act like living tentacles as they hover over Dahlia.
“You boys go on ahead.”
SHWING/SHOOM!
Once the others disappear, Jax picks Dahlia up by her throat with one lock of his hair.
“Ugh...ah...”
She groans, could barely utter a word as her vision starts to blur.
“You made it this far, kid.”
A smile still lingers as his expression grows dark.
“Don’t disappoint me.”
TOSS~
A cold rush of air.
WHOOSH!
Unexplained sounds fading.
CRUMBLE~!
The night sky and the world around turn into a dark void.
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CRASH!
[TO BE CONTINUED...]
